The Australian Active Service Medal was introduced in 1988 to recognise service in prescribed warlike operations since 14 February 1975.
Design
The ribbon colours are primarily variations of the Australian colours of green and gold with a central red stripe symbolising the dangers faced in warlike situations.
A clasp with the name of the theatre or action for which the award is made is presented with the medal.
A further award of the Australian Active Service Medal in another area is recognised by the issue of an additional clasp. Additional clasps are worn above previously awarded clasps, in order of date of receipt.
The following clasps have been issued for the medal.
| Operation | Start-End date | Allotted / Assigned | Visitor / Temporary duty |
|---|---|---|---|
BalkansDeclaration and Determination (Gazette S102) of 27 March 2001 (PDF, 288.86 KB) |
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| United Nations Peacekeeping activities in the former Yugoslavia (1) | 12 Jan 1992 - 24 Jan 1997 | 1 day/1 sortie | 30 days |
CambodiaDeclaration and Determination (Gazette S102) of 27 March 2001 (PDF, 288.86 KB) |
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| United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC) (2) | 20 Oct 1991 - 7 Oct 1993 | 1 day/1 sortie | 30 days |
East TimorDeclaration and Determinations (Gazette S515) of 16 Dec 2004 (PDF, 158.69 KB) |
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Operation Faber United Nations Assistance Mission in East Timor (UNAMET) |
16 Sep 1999 - 23 Feb 2000 | 1 day/1 sortie | 30 days/30 sorties |
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Operation Warden ADF contribution to the International Force in East Timor (INTERFET) |
16 Sep 1999 - 10 Apr 2000 | 1 day/1 sortie | 30 days/30 sorties |
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Operation Tanager United Nations Transitional Administration East Timor (UNTAET) |
20 Feb 2000 - 19 May 2002 | 1 day/1 sortie | 30 days/30 sorties |
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Operation Citadel United Nations Mission of Support in East Timor (UNMISET) |
20 May 2002 - 17 Aug 2003 | 1 day/1 sortie | 30 days |
International Coalition Against Terrorism (ICAT)International Coalition Against Terrorism (ICAT) Instrument 2015 (PDF, 344.99 KB) |
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Operation Slipper ADF Contribution deployed overseas to the United States-led military response to international terrorism. Forward Area (Middle East) |
11 Oct 2001 - 17 Mar 2003 | 30 days/30 sorties | 30 days |
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Operation Slipper Forward Area (Middle East) |
11 Oct 2001 - 31 December 2014 | 1 day/1 sortie | - |
| Diego Garcia | 11 Oct 2001 - 1 Aug 2002 | 30 days/30 sorties | 30 days/30 sorties |
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Operation Palate (Afghanistan) ADF Support to the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan |
18 Apr 2003 - 5 Jul 2004 | 1 day | 30 days (until 17 Mar 2003) |
| Operation Palate II | 27 Jun 2005 - 10 March 2017 | 1 day | N/A |
IraqDeclaration and Determinations (Gazette S136) of 10 Aug 2009 (PDF, 138.48 KB) |
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Operation Jural Service as a member of the ADF assigned for service with the United Kingdom elements of the coalition force operation to patrol the Iraq no-fly zones |
30 Jun 1991 - 12 Jan 2003 | 1 day/1sortie | NA |
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Operation Provide Comfort Service as a member of the ADF assigned for service with the United States elements of the coalition force operation to patrol Iraq no-fly-zones |
11 Aug 1991 - 15 Dec 1996 | 1 day/1sortie | NA |
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Operation Bolton Service as a member of the ADF assigned for service with the United Kingdom elements of the coalition force operation to patrol the Iraq no-fly-zones (for non-warlike component see ASM Iraq). |
31 Aug 1992 - 12 Jan 2003 | 1 day/1sortie | NA |
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Operation Southern Watch Service as a member of the ADF assigned for service with the United States elements of the coalition force operation to patrol the Iraq No-Fly-Zones (for non-warlike component see ASM IRAQ) |
31 Aug 1992 - 12 Jan 2003 | 1 day/1sortie | NA |
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Operation Northern Watch Service as a member of the ADF assigned for service with the United Kingdom elements of the coalition force operation to patrol the Iraq no-fly-zones |
1 Jan 1997 - 12 Jan 2003 | 1 day/1sortie | NA |
Iraq 2003Declaration and Determinations (Gazette S153) of 28 Sep 2009 (PDF, 346.91 KB) |
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Operation Falconer ADF contribution deployed overseas to the United States-led military coalition operations to remove the threat of Iraqi weapons of mass destruction |
18 Mar 2003 - 22 Jul 2003 | 1 day/1 sortie | NA |
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Operation Catalyst Defence Force participation in United States-led coalition in Iraq to support the Australian effort to assist with the rehabilitation of Iraq and to remove the threat posed to world security by Iraq's weapons of mass destruction capability |
16 Jul 2003 - 1 Jul 2009 | 1 day/1 sortie | NA |
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Operation Riverbank The ADF contribution to the provision of security in Iraq |
21 Jul 2008 - 14 December 2013 | 1 day/1 sortie | NA |
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Operation Kruger The ADF contribution to the provision of security in Iraq |
1 Jan 2009 - 09 August 2011 | 1 day/1 sortie | NA |
KuwaitDeclaration and Determinations (Gazette S188) of 13 Nov 2009 (PDF, 320.08 KB) |
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| Service with the multinational deployment in the Persian Gulf | 17 Jan 1991 - 28 Feb 1991 | 1 day/1 sortie | 30 days |
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Operation Damask VI Service on HMAS Canberra |
13 Jan 1993 - 19 Jan 1993 | 1 day | NA |
Middle EastDeclaration and Determinations (Gazette S81) of 19 May 2011 (PDF, 363.26 KB) |
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Operation Paladin ADF members engaged with the United Nations Truce Supervisory Organisation in Southern Lebanon (3) |
12 Jul 2006 - 14 Aug 2006 | 1 day | NA |
NamibiaDeclaration and Determinations (Gazette S303) of 26 Jul 2001 (PDF, 174.44 KB) |
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| Service with UN mission in Namibia UNTAG (4) | 18 Feb 1989 - 10 Apr 1990 | 1 day | 30 days |
RwandaDeclaration and Determinations (Gazette S79) of 23 May 2006 (PDF, 126.44 KB) |
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Operation Tamar United Nations Assistance Mission for Rwanda (5) |
25 Jul 1994 - 8 Mar 1996 | 1 day | NA |
Sierra LeoneDeclaration and Determinations (Gazette S49) of 30 Mar 2011 (PDF, 338.88 KB) |
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| International Military Advisory and Training Team (IMATT) - Sierra Leone | 15 Jan 2001 - 28 Feb 2003 | 1 day | NA |
SomaliaInternational Coalition Against Terrorism (ICAT) Instrument 2015 (PDF, 344.99 KB) |
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| Land and sea component for Operation Iguana | 17 Oct 1992 - 30 Apr 1993 | 1 day/1 sortie | 30 days |
| Battalion Group for Operation Solace | 10 Jan 1993 - 21 May 1993 | 1 day/1 sortie | 30 days |
| Naval Component for Operation Solace | 10 Jan 1993 - 21 May 1993 | 1 day/1 sortie | 30 days |
| Land components of Second UN Operation | 1 May 1993 - 28 Mar 1995 | 1 day/1 sortie | 30 days |
| Air components of Second UN Operation | 1 May 1993 - 28 Mar 1995 | 1 day/1 sortie | 30 days |
Vietnam 1975Declaration and Determinations (Gazette S102) of 27 Mar 2001 (PDF, 143.82 KB) |
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RAAF activities with TSF Butterworth to UNICEF RAAF activities with HQRICDET S to UNICEF |
29 Mar 1975 - 28 APr 1975 | 1 day | NA |
| (1) Upgraded from Australian Service Medal for above period. For service on or after 25 Jan 1997 see Australian Service Medal. (2) Upgraded from Australian Service Medal, Gazette S102 dated 27 Mar 2001. (3) Upgraded from Australian Service Medal Gazette S418 dated 4 Nov 2002 for this period. (4) Upgraded from Australian Service Medal Gazette S303 dated 26 Jul 2001. (5) Upgraded from Australian Service Medal Gazette S79 dated 23 May 2006. |
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Source documents
Letters Patent and Regulations (Gazette S335) of 2 November 1988 (PDF, 178.82 KB)